Diocletian (AD 284-305). AE medallion (36mm, 26.48 gm, 5h). NGC VF 5/5 - 3/5, light marks, gilding traces. Rome, ca. 286-293. IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Diocletian left, the cuirass decorated with head of Medusa, spear in right hand over shoulder / MONETA I-OVI ET HERCVLI-AV-GG, Moneta (in center) standing facing, head left, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left, pile of coins at her feet to left; Jupiter (on left), standing facing, head right, nude but for chlamys over left shoulder, grounded scepter in right hand, thunderbolt in left; Hercules (on right), standing facing, head left, nude but for lion skin draped over left arm, leaning right hand on grounded club, apple upward in left hand. Cohen 337. W. Froehner, Les Médaillons de l'Empire Romain depuis le règne d'Auguste jusqu'à Priscus Attale, Paris, 1878, p. 257. F. Gnecchi, I medaglioni romani II, Milan, 1912, pl. 125, 7. M.-M. Bendenoun, Coins of the Ancient World, A Portrait of the JDL Collection, Tradart, Genève, 2009, 87 (same dies). Areas of gilding remaining on deep chocolate surfaces. Although he reached the Roman throne via the path of coup and civil war, Diocletian turned out to be a far-sighted statesman of rare ability. Achieving undisputed power in AD 285, he came in with a detailed blueprint for Roman revival. Recognizing the task of governing the Empire had grown too great for one man, he divided supreme power with three old military colleagues and devised a formula for renewing this "Tetrarchy" every 20 years. The arrangement worked surprisingly well and by AD 300 the ceaseless revolts and civil wars that had nearly destroyed the Roman Empire over the latter third century had stopped, allowing Roman economic life to slowly and painfully recover. Among the grand designs of Diocletian was an effort to restore the Roman religion to its former prominence. Toward this end, each of the ruling Tetrarchs was assigned to a "house" corresponding to the Roman deities. Though less of a thinker than Diocletian, Maximian was a better soldier, a fact Diocletian understood and even appreciated. Maximian thus became Hercules to Diocletian's Jupiter, the man of action following the lead of a great planner and organizer. In doing so they created the Jovian and Herculian houses that allowed the political structure of Diocletian's government to be defined within the context of state religion. The emperors thus presented themselves as having received their mandate to rule from none other than the gods. In official propaganda they are described as being "born of god and themselves creators of gods." With divine parentage, these rulers presented themselves as being incalculably more legitimate than a usurper who might claim the purple. They took seriously their adoption into the divine houses, each substituted his own birthday (dies natalis) with a new, divine birthday (geminis natalis). They celebrated their new birthday on July 21, representing the day in AD 287 when they adopted the names Jovius and Herculius. The reverse of this medallion is a variation of the iconic tres monetae type, in which figures representing gold, silver and copper are shown standing. In this case, the composition is retained but the figures differ: Juno Moneta, in the center, is flanked by Jupiter and Hercules. Toynbee suggests that this type, inscribed MONETA IOVI ET HERCVLI AVGG, was intended as "...a dedication of the imperial mint to the Emperors' heavenly patrons, who bless financial administration and reforms." This is likely accurate as it is in keeping with Diocletian's penchant for celebrating the religious significance of most every aspect of his reign.

HID09801242017

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